The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

Days later, Agatha gathered her belongings from the inn she had been staying in, as she could no longer afford to stay, even with the money from the work she had been doing.

"I must go back," Agatha said, thinking of returning to her home. "Why did I act so fast to set it on fire?"

Agatha spent every day scolding herself for acting on emotion rather than coming up with a proper plan.

Now she was with very little money, no home, and no children at her side.

Agatha longed to leave the town, but with her finances quite low, she couldn’t leave just yet.

Agatha covered herself with a coat as she believed the townspeople were speaking about her.

Unable to waste money on a carriage to her home, Agatha made the long walk.

"Have you heard news of the engagement?"

Agatha looked over her shoulder at a pair of women walking behind her. She envied that they could spend their time speaking about the season and who was getting married.

Not long ago, Agatha was the one doing the gossiping as she tried to let Iris marry far beyond her means.

"I hear it is going to be the wedding of the season."

"Is it? It is about time that we have a wedding worth looking forward to. Though I heard there will be some competition now that Mr Bailey is engaged. I hear that his mother is taking charge of the wedding."

Agatha rolled her eyes, annoyed by the women’s gossip so early in the morning. It felt as though they were sent to trouble and to remind her of what her life once was like and what it was like now.

The cruel reality of her fall from grace, all because of the actions of Clive, weighed heavily upon her.

"I did hear the news that he is engaged. I am quite surprised by the young woman he chose. The cousin of Lord Hawthorne’s wife isn’t someone I have heard-"

"What did you say?" Agatha exclaimed as she stormed over to grab the woman by her shoulders. "Who is the cousin of Lady Hawthorne engaged to?"

"Unhand me," the stranger said, trying to free herself from Agatha’s hold. "I will send for the guards."

"Just tell me who Iris Wilkins is engaged to. That is the only cousin Lady Hawthorne has. Is she engaged to a wealthy gentleman? Tell it to me," Agatha said, desperate to hear it. Her heart pounded wildly as she let go of the stranger so the news could be shared.

"How do you not know who the Bailey family is? Everyone knows how wealthy they are from their ties to the palace, to the warden, and even the nobles. They are no doubt a wealthy family. I have said it, so be gone."

Agatha paid no attention to the women walking around her as though she were mad. "Why didn’t Reece share that Iris was being courted? How long was she being courted by a wealthy man?"

It fumed Agatha that Iris had the means to save the family, yet she didn’t know of it.

"How long has this been going on for? She could have saved us from this plight sooner. No, it must be Eloise," Agatha said, piecing together what truly occurred. "She waited for Iris to be out of my grasp to introduce her to such a gentleman."

Such a plot from Eloise didn’t surprise Agatha, as she had always known Eloise to be sneaky.

Agatha laughed, realising all that had happened as of late. Iris going missing wasn’t a coincidence.

"To think I have been eating stale bread while they have been enjoying food of the finest quality. Not one of my children thought to save me," Agatha said, tempted to throw the bag in her hands.

Agatha had struggled, but did her best to place her children in a better position than her own. She found one for Reece, but he was too silly to get married in secret and worry himself about a child.

Agatha took a deep breath. "She was always my only hope."

For all the luxuries Iris got to enjoy thanks to Agatha, it should be repaid now that Iris had the means to take care of her family.

"Where does he reside again?" Agatha wondered, changing course for Zayne’s home. "Or should I go to his mother? It is only fair that the parents get to meet."

Agatha looked down at her dress, which wasn’t suitable for meeting Zayne’s family, but it was all she had left at the moment.

"I should have taken Reece’s money. You fool," Agatha scolded herself.

Agatha looked around, trying to find a shop which would allow her to rent a dress for the day and return it by night.

"I must make do," Agatha said, heading towards a shop to spend the last of her money. "It will be worth it in the end," she said, trying desperately to convince herself.

Agatha spent the next few hours trying to prepare herself to meet with her future family, and before going to meet with Zayne’s mother, she decided to go to his home.

Agatha stepped off the cart she had managed to stop for a ride and stared at the mansion in awe.

A man of such upbringing could truly save her and her family.

Agatha hugged the bag of her belongings, which she thought she would no longer need.

"Who goes there?"

Agatha looked away from the mansion to the gate where a single guard awaited her. She smiled and ran over to speak. "I am Agatha Wilkins, mother of Iris Wilkins, who shall become the lady of this mansion in due time. I came to see Mr Bailey."

"He’s not present, and neither is the young lady you spoke of."

Agatha frowned, as it would be a waste of money if no one was here to speak to her. "Do you know where they are now? My daughter had been missing, and only now have I learned she was here. I must see her."

"I cannot speak of their location. I will inform the butler that you were here, and if they wish to see you-"

"I won’t be capable of coming to see them tomorrow in this state. I placed all that I have into coming to see them now," Agatha said, gripping the bars before her. "I must see my daughter or Mr Bailey."

"An unwed woman would not reside here, and I cannot share Mr Bailey’s whereabouts. I bid you a good day."

"No," Agatha whispered, afraid she had missed her chance.